Life-preserving device



G. M. WHEELER.

LIFE PRESERVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAII. 31, 1920.

Pam-ea Dee. 7, im,

GAGE MASON WHEELER, 0F STEILACOOM, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-PRESERVING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. Y, 1920.

Application filed March 31, 1920. Serial No. 370,120.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GAGE MASON WHEELER, a citizen of the United States 0f America, residing at Steilacoom, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preserving Devices, of which the following iS a speciication.

My invention has reference to improvements in life preserving devices and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a life saving suit capable of buoyantly supporting the body of the wearer in water and so designed that it may be quickly adapted to the body of a wearer in an emergency without the necessity of adjusting various parts thereof in positionv upon such wearers body or the fastening of time absorbing devices, all of which are quite undesirable for use in emergencies, as for example, in the wrecking of a vessel and kindred disasters, where more often the faculties of thought and decision of excited passengers are far from normal and it becomes paramount that a form of life preserver capable of quick and simple yet operative adaption to thc body of a wearer be supplied.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a water-proof suit of the character mentioned which is constructed and designed to protect the wearer from exposure to the elements and to the water, should it occur that the person be compelled to remain in the water for a prolonged period of time, aifording the greatest comfort possible by reason of its water-proof and warm design and construction..

Other novel features and arrangements conducive of the object sought to be accomplished by my improved life preserving suit, will be apparent from a perusal of the accompanying drawing in connection with the'hereinafter contained specification wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in said drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view of my improved suit showing the same when not worn by 'a person;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the hood or head covering when not in use; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the suit showing the relation of its various parts to the wearers body.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, it is to be noted that the invention comprehends a body covering formed of positively water-proof material l, which is provided with a wool or like warmth giving lining 2, the covering consisting of legs 3 having feet 4 integral therewith, the heels of which are weighted with lead or other suitable material 45, while a continuous or one piece covering for the body proper or trunk of a wearer designated at 6 is extended from the legs and is formed at its upper endl with a collar 7 having a gathering or securing cord 8 arranged adjacent its free end, said cord passing through rings or eyelets 9 secured to said portion of the collar and having its opposite ends arranged adjacent to each other whereby to facilitate tying of the same when said string has been drawn to cause'the collar to be moved over the wearers shoulders into Snug engagement with his neck. Sleeves 10 having hand coverings 11 formed integral with the outer ends thereof are extended from the opposite sides of the covering 6 adjacent the Shoulder receiving portions thereof, the hand coverings being preferably in form of mittens whereby the wearer may manipulate his hands.

Joined to and extending about the waist of the body covering 6 is a strip of material 12, so arranged as to provide a pocket for receiving air directed thereinto from a tube 13 connected to the front portion thereof and being of a length Suicient to permit arrangement of its free end in the -wearers mouth in order that the pocket or life preserver proper may be inflated at will, a Suitable clamp 14 being attached to the tube 13 to prevent the escape of air therefrom when in its clamping position. In this connection, it should be noted that the inflatable life preserver proper is located directly beneath the arms of the suit, and in consequence, a person wearing the same will be insured proper buoyant support by the device wthout interference with movement of the arms. Further by reason of the weighted heels 5 the wearer will be maintained in a perpendicular or near perpendicular position in the water.

As means for covering the head, a hood 15 is provided and is permanently fastened to the back of the upper end or collar of the suit, Vthe same being formed of material similar to that from which the body covering is formed, and being lined with suitable material also. The forward portion of the hood is open to receive the face while opposite lateral flaps 16 are formed on an extension 0n the rear of the hood and are adapted to be passed about the weareis neck in which position they may be secured by means of a gathering cord 17 arranged through rings'lS secured to certain ofthe sides of said flaps.

In using my improved life preserving suit, the @person applies the same by passing the feet thereinto by way of the opening in its top, which as will be understood is sutil ciently large to permit the pulling oit the body covering up onto the users body. The arms are now inserted in the sleeves 10, whereupon the collar 7 is pulled upwardly as far as is possible. At this time,'the gathlering cord 8 is drawnto cause arrangement of the same over the wearers shoulders and vits snug engagement with his neck. IV ith who places the freeend of the tube 13 in his mouth and blows a sullicient amount of air thereinto, whereat the clamp 14 is depressed to prevent the escape @fair from the inflated preserver. Hence, when the wearer enters the water, he will be buoyantly supported in a feet downward position therein.

If desired pockets 19 of suitable size may be formed on the iront and rear sides oi the coveringG Yand so arranged as to have their open ends at points convenient to a wearer.

revisions or other necessities may be `placed therein for the sustaining of life in the wearer.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim is:

A life preserving suit having a collar eX tending from the upperV end thereof and oi a size sufeient to permit the pulling oil the sameV onto the body of a user, means ior drawing the `free portion 01"' the collar over the users shoulders and into snug engagement with his neck, and a hood secured te said collar having` a rear longitudinal extension formed with oppositely disposed lateral flaps adapted to pass about the neck of the wearer and means on said Vflaps :ler securing the same in position thereabout.

In testimony whereof I alliX my signature in presence of two witnesses. Y

GAGE MASON VHEELER. Witnesses:

WM. I. LEECH, O. M. ERLAND. 

